Patriots’ season comes to an end

The 2A state volleyball playoffs kicked off on Saturday and local school Providence Grove hosted the J.F. Webb Warriors. The Patriots came in at 15-9 on the season and were given a 15 seed in the tournament.

Providence Grove took the first point in the first set, but quickly fell behind 3-1 to Webb. The Warriors then took a 4-2 over the Patriots. Providence Grove picked up a kill from Kaitlin Sexton and a block from Madelyn Grettler to tie the set at 4 all. The Patriots would trail most of the set, but they stayed within a point or two of the Warriors. Madilyn Rhoney served back to back aces to give the Patriots a 10-9 lead over the Warriors. Webb came back to tie and take the lead. They built a 15-11 lead over the Patriots, but Providence Grove would not go away quietly. The Patriots battled back to tie the set a 16 all before taking an 18-16 lead. Both teams traded points the rest of the way until a serving error on the Warriors gave PG a 22-21 lead. Webb would tie at 22, but it would be the last point of the set for the Warriors. Peyton Grettler and Emma Saunders picked up back to back kills as they Patriots went on to win the set 25-22.

The Patriots jumped out to an early 5-2 lead over the Warriors at the start of the second set. Providence Grove stayed in control until the Warriors tied the set at 11-11. A hit from P. Grettler gave the Patriots a 12-11 lead, but Webb was right there to tie the set at 12 all. The Warriors would then go on a 4-0 run for a 16-12 lead over the Patriots. Every time the Patriots cut into the lead, Webb would push it back out to keep the Patriots at bay. Providence Grove rallied behind hits from Rhoney and M. Grettler to tie the set at 20 all. Webb jumped out to a 23-21 lead, but the Patriots battled back to tie the set at 23 all behind a kill from Emma Saunders. Webb would score back to back to take the set 25-23.

Providence Grove once again claimed the first point of the third set and eventually took a 3-0 lead over the Warriors. Webb used a 4-0 run to take a 4-3 lead over Providence Grove, but the lead would not last long as the Patriots tied the set at 4 all. This one would be a back and forth battle as the lead changed hands nine times. Webb tied the set at 14 all, but Providence Grove would go on a small run for a 16-14 lead over the Warriors. Neither team could more than a one point lead the rest of the way until the winning point. Providence Grove was leading 24-23 when Webb rallied for a 26-24 set three win.

Down two sets to one, Providence Grove had one more chance to keep their playoff hopes alive. Webb would take the first point of the fourth set and then jumped out to a 3-0 lead. A kill from Sexton gave the Patriots their first point of the set and would spark a run that allowed the Patriots to tie the set at 3 all. Webb took a 5-3 lead, but Providence Grove would stick close. The Warriors took their largest lead of the afternoon at 12-8, but it would not last long as the Patriots cut the lead to two at 10-12. Providence Grove trailed until a hit from Rhoney cut the lead to 16-18. From there, the Patriots went on a 4-0 run to take a 20-18 lead. M. Grettler picked up a tip and a block during the run. Webb would tie and then take a 21-20 lead. PG tied the set at 21 all, but the Warriors closed out the set with a 4-2 run to win the set 25-23. J.F. Webb would take the match 3 sets to 1.

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About Stephanie King

Stephanie King is the senior sports photographer here at MyRandolphSports.com. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the spring of 2014. She began working for MyRandolphSports.com in the fall of 2013.